Pubdate: Thu, 14 Mar 2013
Source: Chilliwack Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Chilliwack Times
Contact:  http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1357

HANDS TIED OVER 'LEGAL' GROWING

News that Chilliwack RCMP busted a medical marijuana licence-holder 
producing 15 times more than allowed for by Health Canada is surprising.

Not surprising it was happening. Surprising someone got caught.

Those in the know who actually witness what really goes on in 
basements and outbuildings under the auspices of the federal 
government's medical marijuana access regulations (MMAR) know that 
many, many licence holders grow more than they are allowed.

Exorbitant hydro bills alone mean many (mostly) legal growers 
attempting to (mostly) follow the rules have to grow a little (or a 
lot) extra to pay the bills.

Just about every medical marijuana licence holder is producing more 
than allowed.

How do we know? Well, actually we don't. Almost no one does officially.

City hall doesn't know if bylaws are being broken. The fire 
department doesn't know if fire codes are violated. And, in most 
cases, the cops don't know if illegal activity is connected to 
medical grows because they aren't allowed to know due of privacy concerns.

Combine important health care privacy rights with a medicine that is 
legal in a framework of prohibition and what you get is a situation 
where no one is happy.

But with 77 designated growing licences in Chilliwack operating in 
such an incredibly flawed system, this recent bust is the tip of the iceberg.

With change coming to the MMAR by April 1, 2014, those making money 
growing marijuana using a legal loophole not only won't stop over the 
next 12 months, they might just ramp up production.

Given how their hands are mostly tied, we'll be curious to see how 
much of this iceberg the Mounties can uncover.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom